From:
"BETTY YERGER"
Date: 2009-09-20 18:36:49 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Adrenal question for any veterinarians or knowledgeable people here
To: <ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com>
One of my rescued females had a huge vulva with some bleeding with no other
signs. She is reported at 3 to 4 years old by the person who surrendered
her, who was not her original owner. We did an exploratory surgery and
removed the left adrenal which was enlarged. The right adrenal looked
normal and was not removed. During the first few days post surgery the
vulva gradually became smaller. A little more than a week later it was
swelling rapidly and starting to bleed again. Shortly after the biopsy came
in indicating I am told that there were malignant cells within the adrenal
gland and that the border was not clean indicating that some cells may have
been left behind in the adjacent fatty tissue. I have copied the portion of
the biopsy pertaining to the adrenal gland below:
" Left adrenal gland contains variably sized irregular nodules of mildly
pleomorphic hyperplastic cortical endocrine cells intermixed with rare
poorly defined nodule of mildly pleomorphic neoplastic cortical endocrine
cells. Adrenal medullary cells are compressed to the lateral edge by the
proliferation of hyperplastic and neoplastic adrenal cortical cells.
Neoplastic cortical endocrine cells have been mildly pleomorphic medium
round neclei with small amount of chromatin and abundant dark basophilic
cytoplasm. Focal mild lymphoplasmacytic inflammation is present.
Hyperplastic tissue extends into the periglandular adipose tissue."
What is our best chance of successful treatment here? Should we do another
exploratory and remove the adjacent fatty tissue hoping to get any remaining
malignant cells? Do we remove the right adrenal gland? Or do we treat with
lupron which should reduce the vluva, but will do nothing about the
malignancy? Does anyone have any experience with a similar problem?
Betty
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